Board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game apparatus having a number of octagonal playing pieces which two or more players can alternately place on a premarked game board having a plurality of parallel starting lines on each side and end thereof. Four such octagonal pieces when placed together will leave a square at the center thereof. Each of the playing pieces has at least one line across the piece in different configurations. The squares at the centers of the octagonal pieces also may have lines across them in different configurations. The object of the game is to lien up the pieces in such a way that a continuous line is formed across the board from one starting line to another and making use of both the lines on the octagonal playing pieces and on the squares, and the first player to complete a line wins.

United States Patent Shoptaugh Oct. 3, 1972 [54] BOARD GAME APPARATUS 72 Inventor: Philip L. Shoptaugh 3317 Florida St., Oakland, Calif. 93602 and [22] Filed: June 12, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT PP ,755 A game apparatus having a number of octagonal playing pieces which two or more players can alternately 521 US. Cl. ..273/130 R, 273/131 B, 273/136 E, Place a F game having a Plural 273/137 D 273/157 R of parallel starting lines on each side and end thereof. 51 Int. Cl. ..A63f 3/00 such ctagnal Pieces when Placed mgethe will of Search leave a square at the center thereof. Each Of the play 1 1 1 ing pieces has at least one line across the piece in different configurations. The squares at the centers of 56 R f d the octagonal pieces also may have lines across them 1 e erences l e in different configurations. The object of the game is UNITED STATES PATENTS to lien up the pieces in such a way that a continuous 3 309 092 3/1967 Hardesty et al 273/137 D X line is formed across the board from one starting line FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 627,425 8/ 1949 Great Britain ..46/17 633,951 12/1949 Great Britain ..273/157 R to another and making use of both the lines on the octagonal playing pieces and on the squares, and the first player to complete a line wins.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDuma I972 3.695.615 sum 2 0F 4 'BPH/L/P L, swmm ATTOIZNEV INVENTOR.

BOARD GAME APPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A game is provided for two or more players wherein a number of octagonal playing pieces are provided, each of which has one or more lines leading from one extremity to another extremity of the playing piece. The board is premarked in some manner to indicate the position of the playing pieces and the object of the game is to line up the pieces in such a way that a continuous line is made from markers at one edge of the board to markers on an opposite edge. v

In one embodiment of the invention, the playing pieces are octagonal in shape and the board is provided with a series of small squares between which the octagonal pieces fit. Some of the squares also have lines across so that the continuous line across the board may include lines on the squares as well as the lines on the playing pieces themselves.

In another embodiment of the invention the octagonal playing pieces fit into sockets. The squares themselves may also fit into sockets.

In the game of the invention, the play starts with each player having an equal number of pieces. Each of a players pieces have some distinctive indicia thereon so that they can be distinguished, such as having pieces of different color. The players play alternately and the first play consists of a player taking a piece from his stock of pieces and placing it on any position on the board. Any piece can be played on any space in any one of eight positions. After play has commenced, the players continue to play and subsequent plays may consist of 1) taking another piece from the players own stock of pieces and placing it on the board, (2) taking a piece which that player has already played and moving it to a new position on the board or (3) picking up one of the players own pieces and rotating it to a new position on the same playing space. A player cannot withdraw a piece completely from the board once it has been played. The first player to complete a line across the board from one marker to another wins, and this line may include lines on the opponents pieces. The continuous line may be formed between the markers from one side of the board to the opposite side, either between the players or at right angles thereto. However, the continuous line may not be formed between adjacent sides of the board.

The game is somewhat between chess and checkers in difficulty.

In the games illustrated, the board has positions for 32 playing pieces and each of the players is provided with 14 pieces since it has been found that this combination yields a game of moderate difficulty but, of

course, the number of playing positions and/or the number of pieces can be varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment game showing the board and pieces with some of the pieces having been played.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the octagonal pieces.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 33 of FIG. 1

of the board shown in FIG. 1.

IG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower right corner FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the game wherein the pieces fit into sockets.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a playing piece for use on the board of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the playing piece shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a piece having a square shank suitable for use in conjunction with the board of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the board of FIG. 5 showing a winning play thereon. I

FIG. 10 is a section on the line III-10 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings by reference characters and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, there is shown a game board generally designated 6, having a number of octagonal spaces as at 8 and 10 for the reception of an octagonal shaped playing piece such as the one designated 12. Each of the playing pieces in the embodiment illustrated has a base portion 14 adapted to fit into one of the octagonal spaces. Each of the playing pieces has one or more bars or lines across the top thereof. For instance, in the piece 12 shown in FIG. 2, a straight bar 16 goes from one edge of the piece to the opposite edge while a short bar 18 goes from the center to an adjacent edge. Although these are shown as raised bars on the pieces, it is obvious that the game would nevertheless be playable if, they were merely stripes painted or printed on the surface of the octagonal pieces or if they were depressions. However, the raised bars do have utility in. that they serve as a handle for lifting a piece. In the embodiment illustrated, the two sets of pieces havea center marker to indicate one of the two players. For instance, a black marker 20 could be used for oneplayer while white marker 22 might be used for the other. Instead of merely employing these center markers, the entire piece could be made of one or two colors or the bars might be of difierent colors on two sets of pieces or the like to indicate the pieces of two players, or the bars might all be of the same color but with colored bases to distinguish the two players. Naturally if more than two players are to compete, more than two colors would be used so that three or four sets of playing pieces with some distinctive indicia might be employed.

.The bars across the top of the playing pieces can be of a variety of forms. As an illustration, they can be in the form of a cross as at 24, a straight bar from side to side as at 26, a bar across with two pieces at acute angles to adjacent sides as at 28, a right angle as at 30, a Y as at 32 and the like. Normally, one player would have no two pieces alike although this is not necessarily true.

In the embodiment illustrated, the octagonal spaces for the playing pieces are formed both by the outline on the board and by a series of small squares as at 34, 35, 36 and 37. Some of these squares such as at 34, 36 and 37 have blank tops while other squares such as the ones at 35 and 38 can have bars in various configurations on the top surface thereof. For instance, referring more particularly to the section of FIG. 3, square 40 has a plain, flat surface while square 42 has a bar 44 at the center thereof. The bars of the squares can also be used to complete the design. At each edge of the board there are markers and the line across the board must be completed from a marker at one edge of the board to a marker at the opposite edge. Thus, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 there are four markers on each edge of the board such as the ones illustrated at 46, 47, 48 and 49. Thus, it will be seen in FIG. 1 that a path has been established from marker 46 to marker 48 and that a portion of this continuous path is formed by the pattern on square 50.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 through 10, a board generally designated 60 is provided and this board has a series of octagonal sockets as at 62 spaced at regular intervals thereon. Between the octagonal sockets are square sockets as at 64. The playing pieces can then be of two types. Thus, there are octagonal pieces as is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 and square pieces as in FIG. 8.

The octagonal pieces shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 consist of a center octagonal section 66 having a smaller octagonal section 68 at the bottom thereof, with the bars 70 at the top. The square pieces, such as the one shown in FIG. 8, have a square base 72 and may or may not have a bar as at 74 on the top thereof. Since there is no overhang on the piece of FIG. 8, while there is an overhang on the octagonal pieces, the walls forming the sockets for the pieces are of different thicknesses so that the various pieces will mate smoothly together. Thus, on a partition between the flat sides of two octagonal pieces, as at 76, the thickness is twice as great as that of the wall 78 which separates a square socket from an octagonal socket, which thickness is, of course, common to all four sides of a square socket. Thus, the overhang of one of the octagonal pieces is equal to onehalf of the wall thickness 76 and is equal to the wall thickness 78 so that the octagonal piece will mate smoothly in any position.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 a winning play is shown made by the octagonal pieces 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92 and 94 and by the square pieces 81, 83, 85, 87 and 89. The line is completed between markers 96 and 98.

Naturally the colors of the bodies of the various pieces and the bars, including the newly introduced square pieces, will be along the same plan as previously described so that the players can distinguish their pieces. Play would be as previously described with the additional variation of having the square pieces. The square pieces could be distributed in equal numbers to the players in the same manner as the octagonal pieces, or they may be arbitrarily placed on the board before play begins.

Although the board has been shown as including a series of sockets which are formed in the outline of the playing field and by the squares, it is obvious that a three-dimensional figure need not be employed. For instance, the octagons and squares could be merely printed or painted on the surface as on a chess board and the playing pieces themselves might be thin, flat sheets with the markings merely painted or printed thereon.

In playing the game, each player would normally start with a given number of octagonal pieces, suitably 14, plus the square pieces, if used, and one or the other of the players would start the play by putting a piece on the board. Since the pieces have eight sides, any piece could be put into eight different positions in any one of the sockets. The players alternate plays and after the first pieces are played by each side, the next play or plays can consist of either adding another piece to the board, picking up one of that players own pieces and turning it in its socket or lifting a piece from one socket and placing it in another. After a piece has once been played, it cannot be completely removed from the board. In defining a path across the board, a player can take into account not only the path formed by the bars on his own pieces but also that formed by those of an opponent. Thus, it will be seen that the path 46-48 of FIG. 1 includes both black and white pieces as well as bars from one of the squares. The first person who completes a path across the board wins the game. This can be from a marker on any side to a marker on the opposite side but not on an adjacent side. Thus, the path 46-48 is shown as the vertical path in FIG. 1 but a horizontal path from side to side could also be established to provide a winning play. For instance, if the path 46-48 had not been completed, one could complete a path from side to side on the board by inserting pieces which would complete a path from 47 to Many variations can be made in the exact game described without departing from the spirit of this invention. For instance, the entire game may be made of flat pieces with the necessary indicia merely painted or printed thereon. Thus, the game would lend itself to a very low cost version wherein the board consisted merely of a sheet of cardboard and the playing pieces consisted merely of printed chips. The pattern of lines on the various playing pieces can be varied and it is preferred that the majority of the pieces be non-symmetrical in at least one direction. For instance, a piece having a cross as at 24 has only two effective playing positions rather than eight, while a piece having a single bar as at 26 would have only four effective positions. On the other hand, a piece lacking top to bottom symmetry, as the bars in 28, would have eight effective playing positions and so on. Naturally, the fewer symmetrical pieces, the more difficult and exciting the game becomes.

I claim:

1. A game comprising a playing board having opposite side and end edges and an upper surface with a playing area defined thereon having an irregular outline which corresponds to the outline of at least a por tion of each of a plurality of respective playing pieces so that the playing pieces are oriented in a predetermined manner on the playing area, said playing pieces including a plurality of octagonally shaped playing pieces and a plurality of square shaped playing pieces, a plurality of visible, spaced apart starting line designating means along each of the opposite marginal side and end edge portions of the board disposed outwardly of the irregular outline of the playing area, the width of said playing area between opposite sides thereof being substantially equal to a whole number of aligned, contacting octagonal playing pieces extending therebetween, said octagonal playing pieces and at least some of said square playing pieces having suitable visible means on an upper surface thereof forming a line extending across each playing piece from one edge to another edge thereof, so that a plurality of playing pieces may be positioned in a predetermined orientation on the playing area of said board with said visible lines on said playing pieces aligned with one another and with respective starting lines at opposite edges of the board to form a continuous line from one edge of the board to the opposite edge thereof across the plurality of playing pieces.

2. A game as in claim 1, wherein said octagonally shaped and square shaped playing pieces have means thereon to visually distinguish the playing pieces into a first group of playing pieces and a second group of playing pieces.

3. A game as in claim 2, wherein said visible lines on said playing pieces comprise raised bars or ribs on the upper surface of the playing pieces, and the starting line designating means at the marginal edges of the board comprise raised bars or ribs extending normal to the edge of the board.

4. A game as in claim 3, wherein at least some of said square playing pieces are fixed to said playing area on said board.

5. A game as in claim 4, wherein said playing area has a plurality of sockets formed therein corresponding in size and shape to interfitting projection means on the bottom side of each playing piece so that the projection means of the playing pieces may be inserted into the sockets to securely position said playing pieces on said playing area.

6. A game comprising a playing board having opposite side and end edges and an upper surface with a playing area defined thereon having an irregular outline which corresponds to the outline of at least a portion of each of a plurality of respective playing pieces so that the playing pieces are oriented in a predetermined manner on the playing area, said playing pieces including a plurality of octagonally shaped playing pieces and a plurality of square shaped playing pieces, a plurality of visible, spaced apart starting line designating means along each of the opposite marginal side and end edge portions of the board disposed outwardly of the irregular outline of the playing area, the diagonal distance between adjacent sides of said playing area being substantially equal to a whole number of aligned, contacting octagonal playing pieces extending therebetween, said octagonal playing pieces and at least some of said square playing pieces having suitable visible means on an upper surface thereof forming a line extending across each playing piece from one edge to another edge thereof, so that a plurality of playing pieces may be positioned in a predetermined orientation on the playing area of said board with said visible lines on said playing pieces aligned with one another and with respective starting lines at opposite edges of the board to form a continuous line from one edge of the board to the opposite edge thereof across the plurality of playing pieces.

7. A game as in claim 6, wherein said octagonally shaped and square shaped playing pieces have means thereon to visually distinguish the playing pieces into a first group of playing pieces and a second group of playing pieces.

8. A game as in claim 7, wherein said visible lines on said playing pieces comprise raised bars or ribs on the upper surface of the playing pieces, and the starting line designating means at the marginal edges of the board comprise raised bars or ribs extending normal to the edge of the board,

. A game as in claim 8, wherein at least some of said square playing pieces are fixed to said playing area on said board.

10. A game as in claim 9, wherein said playing area has a plurality of sockets formed therein corresponding in size and shape to interfitting projection means on the bottom side of each playing piece so that the projection means of the playing pieces may be inserted into the sockets to securely position said playing pieces on said playing area. 

1. A game comprising a playing board having opposite side and end edges and an upper surface with a playing area defined thereon having an irregular outline which corresponds to the outline of at least a portion of each of a plurality of respective playing pieces so that the playing pieces are oriented in a predetermined manner on the playing area, said playing pieces including a plurality of octagonally shaped playing pieces and a plurality of square shaped playing pieces, a plurality of visible, spaced apart starting line designating means along each of the opposite marginal side and end edge portions of the board disposed outwardly of the irregular outline of the playing area, the width of said playing area between opposite sides thereof being substantially equal to a whole number of aligned, contacting octagonal playing pieces extending therebetween, said octagonal playing pieces and at least some of said square playing pieces having suitable visible means on an upper surface thereof forming a line extending across each playing piece from one edge to another edge thereof, so that a plurality of playing pieces may be positioned in a predetermined orientation on the playing area of said board with said visible lines on said playing pieces aligned with one another and with respective starting lines at opposite edges of the board to form a continuous line from one edge of the board to the opposite edge thereof across the plurality of playing pieces.
 2. A game as in claim 1, wherein said octagonally shaped and square shaped playing pieces have means thereon to visually distinguish the playing pieces into a first group of playing pieces and a second group of playing pieces.
 3. A game as in claim 2, wherein said visible lines on said playing pieces comprise raised bars or ribs on the upper surface of the playing pieces, and the starting line designating means at the marginal edges of the board comprise raised bars or ribs extending normal to the edge of the board.
 4. A game as in claim 3, wherein at least some of said square playing pieces are fixed to said playing area on said board.
 5. A game as in claim 4, wherein said playing area has a plurality of sockets formed therein corresponding in size and shape to interfitting projection means on the bottom side of each playing piece so that the projection means of the playing pieces may be inserted into the sockets to securely position said playing pieces on said playing area.
 6. A game comprising a playing board having opposite side and end edges and an upper surface with a playing area defined thereon having an irregular outline which corresponds to the outline of at least a portion of each of a pluRality of respective playing pieces so that the playing pieces are oriented in a predetermined manner on the playing area, said playing pieces including a plurality of octagonally shaped playing pieces and a plurality of square shaped playing pieces, a plurality of visible, spaced apart starting line designating means along each of the opposite marginal side and end edge portions of the board disposed outwardly of the irregular outline of the playing area, the diagonal distance between adjacent sides of said playing area being substantially equal to a whole number of aligned, contacting octagonal playing pieces extending therebetween, said octagonal playing pieces and at least some of said square playing pieces having suitable visible means on an upper surface thereof forming a line extending across each playing piece from one edge to another edge thereof, so that a plurality of playing pieces may be positioned in a predetermined orientation on the playing area of said board with said visible lines on said playing pieces aligned with one another and with respective starting lines at opposite edges of the board to form a continuous line from one edge of the board to the opposite edge thereof across the plurality of playing pieces.
 7. A game as in claim 6, wherein said octagonally shaped and square shaped playing pieces have means thereon to visually distinguish the playing pieces into a first group of playing pieces and a second group of playing pieces.
 8. A game as in claim 7, wherein said visible lines on said playing pieces comprise raised bars or ribs on the upper surface of the playing pieces, and the starting line designating means at the marginal edges of the board comprise raised bars or ribs extending normal to the edge of the board.
 9. A game as in claim 8, wherein at least some of said square playing pieces are fixed to said playing area on said board.
 10. A game as in claim 9, wherein said playing area has a plurality of sockets formed therein corresponding in size and shape to interfitting projection means on the bottom side of each playing piece so that the projection means of the playing pieces may be inserted into the sockets to securely position said playing pieces on said playing area. 